Travel > Columns > Get in gear
Stay clean, smart, and flexible
By Lylah M. Alphonse, Globe Staff, 02/24/03
Finish your trip unstained
A few drops of Gonzo stain remover seem to take out almost anything, from blood to ink to grass to baby formula. It's odorless, nontoxic, nonflammable, and safe for children, pets, and the environment. A tiny, 1-ounce travel size gives you about 300 applications — apply a few drops directly to the stain and allow it to penetrate the fiber, then scrape the treated area and blot with an absorbent cloth. The travel-size Gonzo (it comes in larger sizes) is available for $1.99 at Home Depot stores, and for about $4 online at www.organize-everything.com; www.gonzocorp.com/homeprod.htm; www.stacksandstacks.com; and www.doitbest.com.
Sharpening your native tongue
Zelco's bookmark dictionary is slim enough to slide between the pages of a book, and holds enough information to help you understand practically anything you are reading. The electronic gadget holds a 50,000-word dictionary (definitions appear on the LCD screen), and an alarm clock and calculator, making it a great travel companion. It runs on a lithium battery, is 5 inches long, 3 inches wide, and a mere quarter-inch thick, and weighs less than 2 ounces. It's available for about $40 from the Hammacher-Schlemmer catalog (telephone 800-543-3366), and online at www.hammacher.com; www.thelibraryshop.org; www.igadget.com; www.ideafinder.com; and www.giftsandgadgetsonline.com.
Reversible versatility
Basic black goes with everything — almost. She-Works offers a reversible tote bag that unzips to reverse from solid black to completely khaki. Made of lightweight microfiber with satin-finished nickel hardware, this stain-resistant tote from Baggellini has plenty of room for day-trip or sightseeing essentials. It measures 14-by-15-by-3 inches, and the twin straps are 26 inches long. It costs $46 from She-Works (telephone 800-201-3669, or online at www.she-works.com). Add a black microfiber purse/organizer with a strap that converts so you can wear it four ways and that costs $39. Both bags are also available online at www.thesavvytraveller.com (telephone 888-666-6200).
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